Cholinergic neuromodulation by ATP, adenosine and its N6-substituted analogues in guinea-pig ileum

The effects of ATP, adenosine and N6-substituted adenosines, adenosine receptor agonists, on the twitch contraction of guinea-pig ileum evoked by transmural stimulation were evaluated. Adenosine and ATP produced an immediate and concentration dependent inhibition of the twitch, IC50 being 1.1 X 10(-5) mol/l and 1.2 X 10(-5) mol/l, respectively. N6-l-phenylisopropyl adenosine (L-PIA), N6-cyclohexyl adenosine (CHA) and N6-allyl adenosine also induced inhibitions which were gradual and persistent, IC50 being 2.6 X 10(-8), 2.7 X 10(-8) and 5.4 X 10(-7) mol/l, respectively. Dipyridamole (10(-7) mol/l), an adenosine uptake inhibitor, markedly augmented the inhibition evoked by adenosine and ATP, but not that by three N6-substituted adenosines, while theophylline (10(-4) mol/l) almost completely antagonized the inhibitory effects of all purine compounds. IC50 value of adenosine in the presence of dipyridamole (5 X 10(-7) mol/l) was shifted to the left about 50 times from the control, whereas that of L-PIA was virtually unchanged. Tissue-medium ratios indicating uptake of [3H]adenosine, [3H]ATP and [3H]CHA into the segment were 3.23 (s.e.m. = 0.59), 3.59 (s.e.m. = 0.78) and 0.41 (s.e.m. = 0.04), respectively. These results suggest that not only adenosine and ATP but also these N6-substituted adenosines are potent agonists for the P1 receptor, implying a similarity between P1 and A1 receptor in a functional role and these purine compounds may thereby modulate cholinergic neurotransmission by altering adenylate cyclase activity.